Posted 2008-12-24 12:41 PM (#96442) Subject: hydraulic jack not working
Member
Posts: 23
Location: missouri
My hydraulic jack is not working. The trailer is plugged in so it is not a power issue. Every once in a while while pushing the button, I can hear a few clicks. I have owned the trailer for 4 years and have never done anything with the jack. Is there hydraulic fluid I'm supposed to be checking? What could be the problem?
Posted 2008-12-24 6:31 PM (#96453 - in reply to #96442) Subject: RE: hydraulic jack not working
Expert
Posts: 3802 Location: Rocky Mount N.C.
Originally written by pedsrn on 2008-12-24 1:41 PM
My hydraulic jack is not working.
The trailer is plugged in so it is not a power issue. Does the trailer have 12 volt batteries that operate the jack?Are the batteries fully charged? If it does have batteries, have you replaced them during the four years you've owned the trailer?
Every once in a while while pushing the button, I can hear a few clicks. Are the clicks at the switch, button, solenoid, motor, etc.?
I have owned the trailer for 4 years and have never done anything with the jack. Is there hydraulic fluid I'm supposed to be checking? If it is in fact hydraulic.... Yes there is fluid that should be checked, but if the fluid were low the pump would still run, just wouldn't lift the trailer.
What could be the problem? I'm with Hosspuller, I bet it's something electrical.
Posted 2008-12-24 9:19 PM (#96460 - in reply to #96442) Subject: RE: hydraulic jack not working
Member
Posts: 43 Location: Cheyenne,Wy
How old are your batteries on the trailer ? If your batteries are to old and cant hold a proper charge there will not be enough power for your jacks to work even if you have your trailer pluged in.
Posted 2008-12-24 10:45 PM (#96462 - in reply to #96442) Subject: RE: hydraulic jack not working
Expert
Posts: 2453 Location: Northern Utah
The jack runs off 12v power. Your power cord to the house is 110v. It comes into the trailer and goes through a convertor to convert it to 12volt. Which is stored in your batteries.
So you could have dead batteries
You could have a defective convertor
Or you could have a defective jack.
Trace the power through and make sure you full power coming out of the batteries and going into the Jack.
Posted 2008-12-24 10:52 PM (#96463 - in reply to #96442) Subject: RE: hydraulic jack not working
Member
Posts: 5
Location: Dayton, Ohio
It sounds like a power issue. Be sure to check your ground and your power supply. Remember ... when wiring gets cold, it gets brittle. Also ... Hydraulic fluid is like syrup in the winter, and takes alot more power to run. And you may also check your switch, Good luck Rick
Posted 2008-12-24 11:04 PM (#96464 - in reply to #96442) Subject: RE: hydraulic jack not working
Expert
Posts: 1351 Location: Decatur, Texas
Check your ground! They get dirt built up between the jack and frame where they are mounted.
I have a bigfoot jack and thought I had power problems and after a few un need words I pulled out some jumper cables to by-pass the trailer power and when that did not work I hook the cables to the frame of the trailer and to the jack and WOW it worked fine. I bought a 12' battery cable from Autozone for 3.99 and run it from a bolt on the actual motor to a bolt on the frame where the jack bolts to the trailer.
Posted 2008-12-24 11:09 PM (#96465 - in reply to #96452) Subject: RE: hydraulic jack not working
Expert
Posts: 1351 Location: Decatur, Texas
Originally written by hosspuller on 2008-12-24 6:05 PM
Don't be so sure it's not a power issue.
Are you sure it's a hydraulic jack and not a mechanical jack?
What do you mean mechanical jack? I never seen a mechanical jack with power. Either a regular old style manual jack, electric jack or hydraulic over electric!
Posted 2008-12-25 4:26 PM (#96475 - in reply to #96442) Subject: RE: hydraulic jack not working
Member
Posts: 23
Location: missouri
Thanks everyone. Yes, I definitely have a hydraulic jack, and yes my battery is probably dead. It been weak for a while but I thought the jack would work if my trailer was plugged in.?.?... My battery hasn't held a charge for months and the jack worked.
I'll start by replacing the battery. Thanks and Merry Christmas!
Posted 2008-12-25 9:18 PM (#96481 - in reply to #96475) Subject: RE: hydraulic jack not working
Expert
Posts: 1351 Location: Decatur, Texas
Yes, the jack will still work if you are hooked up to your truck. Just not as fast as it would with hot batteries. The Sundowner you see by my sign on name is the one we just bought and the batteries was completely dead when I pick it up and I just plugged it in to my truck and the jack worked just fine!
I would still take a few mins. and check the ground as well!
Posted 2008-12-30 6:16 PM (#96717 - in reply to #96475) Subject: RE: hydraulic jack not working
Member
Posts: 8
Location: McComb, Mississippi
Be sure and get the proper batteries that are supposed to be used, drained, then recharged... Kind of like Marine batteries, they will last ya longer! Dan
hydraulic jack not working
